VCU’s Kriskova, Sykes; Rhody’s Kinnan Earn Volleyball Awards

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—VCU sophomore Romana Kriskova earned her league-leading fifth weekly honor Monday, securing the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week award. Kriskova’s teammate, junior Janelle Sykes was named Defensive Player of the Week and Rhode Island freshman Callan Kinnan earned Rookie of the Week honors. The awards were for matches played October 21-27.

Kriskova averaged 5.00 kills and hit .300 in league wins over Rhode Island and Fordham to help VCU maintain its lead in the standings. She tallied 15 kills while hitting .310 and picking up a double-double with 12 digs at Fordham, followed by a 15-kill performance at Rhode Island, registering three aces in the process. The outside hitter from Bratslavia, Slovakia, also had seven blocks in the two matches. Kriskova moved into sole possession of second place on VCU’s single season kills list with 515, trailing only Ludmila Francescatto (549).

Sykes, a middle blocker from Clifton, Va., averaged 1.67 blocks per set in the two VCU wins. She tallied four blocks at Fordham, followed by six at Rhode Island, helping her account for 2.0 points per set for the Rams. Sykes moved into sixth place on VCU’s single-season blocks list with 142.

Kinnan averaged 9.8 assists per set in a 2-1 week for the Rams, collecting 98 assists overall in URI’s 2-1 week. The setter from Los Angeles also had 16 digs and five blocks. She had 38 assists in a win over in-state rival Providence, followed by another 38 assists and four aces in a win over George Mason. She became just the 14th player in program history to eclipse 900 career assists on Saturday night and she is the first A-10 player to have reached 900+ assists this season.